A coach depot will be allowed in Perivale despite objections from neighbours about noise, pollution and safety concerns.

Ealing Council granted permission for the industrial land in Aintree Road to be used as a coach depot, with the retention of a noise barrier and alterations to the lighting, at a planning meeting on Wednesday last week (July 2).

Alex Nieora, secretary of the Perivale Festivals Committee, said the council puts businesses before residents.

He said there is already a problem with large vehicles from industrial estates forced to use residential roads and this will only make it worse.

He said: “The decision will mean one coach every seven minutes during school morning drop-off and rush hour and 16 coaches operating during the night.

“Rather than permitting the site to be developed for residential land use, Ealing Council have sold out to a coach company in an area that is already plagued by 5m-high container lorries, forced to use Bilton Road, Horsenden Lane South and other residential roads as there is no alternative.”

The council report said the coach depot is considered acceptable in this industrial location, and would be compatible and complementary to the range of employment uses and economic activities nearby.

It said: “The results indicated noise levels created by the limited night-time activity at the site does not result in noise nuisance or detrimental impacts to neighbouring properties.”

A spokesperson for St John Fisher RC Primary School in Sarsfield Road, Perivale, said: “Our children walk to and from school passing the application site.

“The intensification of large vehicle movements increases risk for children using footpaths around the site when coming to and from school.”

The council planning officer’s report said most of the coaches would exit the site and turn left (south) opposite an industrial area towards the A40.

It said: “Residential properties are located to the north and east from the application site. Therefore, there would not be coaches passing by the school gates.”

A council spokesperson added: “In deciding to grant planning permission for a coach depot, the committee carefully considered concerns raised about noise, traffic and disruption and put in place a number of measures to address these issues.”

The application by P & J Ellis was received by the council last November.

The Gazette did not receive a comment in response from the applicant before going to press.